As long as the FAA has been around the Greenwich Academy field hockey team has stood head and shoulders above its competitors winning every league championship, with their 27th consecutive title coming last week.

However, there is another trophy that has proven much more elusive in the program's history and that is the NEPSAC Class A championship. The Gators have made the tournament every year since 1991 and have advanced to the finals eight of those years, winning four titles. But the last time GA hoisted a New England trophy was eight seasons ago, and the 2010 Gators are focused on bringing the championship back home starting today when they travel to Loomis Chaffee in Windsor to face Phillips Exeter Academy at 2:15 p.m. in the Class A quarterfinals.

According to senior tri-captain Catie Schmidt the only difference between this tournament and the league tournament that produced yet another GA league crown is that a championship isn't the only thing on the line.

"The only thing that changes is our sense of urgency knowing that our season could end with a loss," Schmidt said. "It's taken all of us working together to get to where we are right now. We're just looking to get back the title we lost out on last year but all we can do is approach this tournament with a one game at a time mindset."

The lost opportunity of last season Schmidt referenced was a heartbreaking triple-overtime loss GA (19-2) suffered at the hands of Winchester in the NEPSAC Class A semifinals. As they prepare to write a different ending to this season's script head coach Angela Tammaro recognizes her team will have their hands full but also notes that her girls should take great pride in the fact that they are the lone team representing Fairfield County in the tournament.

"This is infinitely many steps up from our league play," Tammaro said. "The competition is very tough and it's just a whole different level of field hockey which will require our best effort. I'm not sure it's fully hit them that they are the only team from Fairfield to make it to this tournament, but they should be proud of that because it's a testament to all the work they've put into this season."

In order for the Gators to take that next step and reclaim the title of state champion they will need to go up against some unfamiliar opponents, an aspect of the NEPSAC tournament that has it's pros and cons according to tri-captain Kathryn Stack.

"It's always nice to know the style of play your opponent has, but the unknown also forces you to play at your best and take no opponent lightly," Stack said. "While we're not familiar with most of the teams in this tournament we have to remember that they're not very familiar with us either. It just comes down to us being able to adjust to our opponents quicker than they adjust to us."

One area that GA does not need to adjust is the chemistry it's built throughout the season. An intangible element that tri-captain Meghan Duff believes will serve the Gators well in the pressure packed tournament.

"I think we're ready for this tournament," Duff said. "It's something we've been working toward all season long. We have a great chemistry as a team and that definitely has a positive effect on all aspects of our game."

So as they prepare to embark on yet another championship journey the Gators are focused on doing something that hasn't been done in eight long seasons -- keeping their field hockey family together for at least three more games.

"Every year you become a family on the field and we play each and every game for one another," Schmidt said. "We have the potential to win this title and we're just looking at this tournament as sudden death. I've always thought we had what it takes to reclaim the championship and personally speaking it would mean so much for me to end my time on this team by putting one last trophy into the case."